Defense is Hoosier's bright spot

Despite starting the Big Ten season 0-2 and scoreless, the women's soccer team does have one bright spot: the defense.\nIn seven games this year, the Hoosier defense has only allowed four goals while compiling 39 saves in the net. Senior backs Jena Kluska and Kendal Willis lead the defense while junior transfer Whitney Butler brings in a breath of fresh air to a rejuvenated backfield. \n"We're playing a possession game and Whitney compliments that really well," Kluska said. "She's a great person and an excellent teammate."\nSplitting time in the net for IU is senior Chrissy Heubi and freshman Shaunna Daugherty. The two did not allow a goal until the fourth game of the season for the Hoosiers. \nIU posted an impressive defense a season ago, but players said they believe they have improved.\n"Last year, our defense didn't stay the same throughout the season, so no one was really used to playing with each other for a long period of time," Willis said. "In the spring, all three of us just started over."\nIU has posted four shutouts, all 3-0 wins. The defense has really had to pick up the slack as of late, because IU hasn't scored a goal in its last two games. With the Hoosiers recent injury troubles more attention is focused on the defense.\nSophomore forward Jessie Rabin has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and sophomore midfielder Lisa Tecklenburg is having surgery Monday, leaving two would-be starters out for the season. Also, with sophomore forward Kristen Sprunger the past three weeks with a stress fracture, the defense has felt pressure like no other.\n"We are entering a whole new world in Big Ten play," coach Joe Kelley said in a press release. "The teams are so tough and so even in talent. It's hard to play anyone in the conference and it doesn't matter what their record is. People make the mistake of looking at records."\nThe defense has also gotten into the offensive aspect of the game, adding pressure to a defense that already has high expectations.\n"I don't think that relieves any pressure," Kelley said. "In fact it maybe adds to it a little because I expect so much out of that group"